PH population "flirts with" 100-million mark, expected to reach 97.6 million this year

Interaksyon.com, citing data from the Commission on Population or PopCom, reports that "Philippine population is expected to hit 97.6 million this year." The report noted that, according to estimates, there were 95.8 million Filipinos in 2011.

Interaksyon.com, citing data from the Commission on Population or PopCom, reports that "Philippine population is expected to hit 97.6 million this year." The report noted that, according to estimates, there were 95.8 million Filipinos in 2011.

The report noted: "The (PopCom’s) calculation is based on the yearly 2.04-percent population growth rate, according to Tomas Osias, PopCom executive director. The commission projects that the country’s population will be at 101.2 million by 2014, and to over 200 million after 34 years."

The report quoted Osias, who said that "the country’s population growth rate was pegged at 2.36 percent in the 1980s." He added that though "the rate did not increase that much compared to current statistics, but the growth is still fast relative to other countries in Southeast Asia." The report pointed out that Thailand’s annual population growth rate is only one percent.